Mr. Bing is not returning to St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

Mr. Bing, which specializes in the Northern Chinese street food crepe (aka a jianbing or bing for short), has been closed for the past month at 115 St. Mark's Place near Avenue A. The sign on the door mentions a closure for renovations.

The note to patrons has been a source of confusion for a few residents, given that Mr. Bing arrived as a pop-up business last October that would only be here for several months.

A rep for the quick-serve restaurant told me via email: "The pop-up is indeed closed, but Mr. Bing had a great time in the East Village."

No word on what's next for the space... or what happens to the beer-wine license that CB3 OK'd for Mr. Bing last September.



Mr. Bing, a regular on NYC's food market and festival scene the past two years, will continue on at UrbanSpace Vanderbilt food hall, among other locations.

The previous tenant at 115 St. Mark's Place, Water Witch Mercantile, closed at the end of 2016 after just two months in business.

Full exposures at Thirteen East + West

At last look, only the eastern half of the Thirteen East + West condos had been revealed... now 442 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue is out in the open, free of its scaffolding and netting...


[No. 442]


[No. 436]

Each 6-floor building features six full-floor, two-bedroom homes that will be "sun-drenched" according to the press materials.

When the sales launch, the prices will range between $2.350 million and $3.7 million.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Tracking the coming changes to East 13th Street between Avenue A and 1st Avenue

A look at the new luxury condos coming soon to East 13th Street

Temporary art and future condos on East 13th Street

Demo time for East 13th Street garages that will yield to luxury condos

A look at the residences coming to Thirteen East + West on East 13th Street

Jazz standards and regulars in Tompkins Square Park

Some late-afternoon jazz in Tompkins Square Park today via Park regulars the Eric Paulin Quartet.

Thanks to Vinny & O for the photo.

Manhattenhenge, take 2

[Nothing to see here!]

After a promising and photogenic start last evening, some low-sitting clouds obscured the setting sun, spoiling the first Manhattanhenge of the year (#Disappointhenge).

However, if all goes well tonight, the sun will align with the street grid around 8:12. (Full sun on the grid!)

The next dates for Manhattanhenge 2018 are July 12 and 13.

And if you want some background on all this Manhattenhenging, read this by Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Museum of Natural History.

You had mail

So long to the tagged and broken postal relay box that was on St. Mark's Place and Avenue A ... workers hauled it off this morning.

Photo by Derek Berg

A vegan café for 9th Street

A vegan café called called V ❤️ U is coming to 428 E. Ninth St.

EVG correspondent Steven ran into its owner, Junie Ishimori, yesterday in front of the space between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Ishimori, who previously co-owned the vegan ice cream shop Stogo on 10th Street for four years, is just starting work on the café, and hopes to open by the end of the summer.

This storefront was previously Mr. Throwback, which moved across the street in December.

2 new vendors for the Bowery Market

The Bowery Market, the year-round open-air food court at 348 Bowery and Great Jones, has welcomed two new vendors.

The Fruitsand opened earlier this spring. According to their listing at the Bowery Market website, they sell "special sandwiches made with Japanese milky bread called Shokupan, organic fruits and handmade whipped cream. Japanese food that has a long history of over 100 years."

A post shared by THE FRUITSAND. (@thefruitsand) on May 12, 2018 at 11:55am PDT

On Saturday, L’Arte del Gelato, which has locations in the Chelsea Market as well as near several museums, will debut here.



A Bowery Market rep told me that they'll be adding one or two more vendors this summer.

The Market launched in July 2016 with five vendors. Alidoro is the only original tenant left. The other vendors are Sushi on Jones, Oaxaca Comida Calle and Dosa Royale.

Truth in listings: A co-op that needs some TLC

Most often the photos that accompany sales or rental listings feature carefully staged photos to make a positive first impression on potential buyers or renters.

That's not the case with this one-bedroom co-op on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. The Streeteasy listing notes that the place "Needs TLC."

Perhaps to prove that point, the only two photos with the listing offer an unvarnished view of the place — at least of a closet and top of the refrigerator...





The residence is listed at $425,000, with a note that it is in "need of a full renovation." And HDFC income restrictions apply here — one person $120,000; two people $137,000, per the listing.

Bubbleology Tea signs a lease on 1st Avenue

As previously noted, the London-based Bubbleology Tea chain was planning to open at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

In its listing of recent real-estate transactions, the Times reported yesterday that the owners of this franchise signed a seven-year lease for the space, which previously housed the International Bar.

From the Times:

London-based bubble tea franchise has signed a seven-year lease for its flagship shop to open this summer in a 750-square-foot storefront, with a backyard patio, in this five-story East Village walk-up. The shop will feature milk- and fruit-based bubble tea blends including Oreo Crush, along with alcoholic brews including Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni.

The annual rent was listed at $105,000 — $8,750 per month.

The owners were seeking a full-liquor license for the address. However, CB3 denied their application last month, citing "insufficient public benefit ... for a business seeking to add tea-infused cocktails to its drink menu to sustain its business plan, in an area well-served with licensed businesses furnishing cocktails," per the minutes from that meeting.

It's not known at the moment if Bubbleology Tea is seeking a license directly from the State Liquor Authority for its Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni and other boozy teas.

The latest iteration of the International Bar closed this past Thanksgiving. (Non-renewal of lease, via landlord Steve Croman.) The bar merged with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, one block to the south between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More about Bubbleology Tea, possibly coming soon to 1st Avenue

Tuesday's parting shot

Photo on 10th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C via @lifeinthekey ...

Noted

EVG reader Mark White shared this photo... spotted early this morning on Second Street and Avenue B. Unfortunately, anything likely considered dope was already long gone...

Manhattanhenge is ON

Clear skies mean #Manhattanhenge is on for today (May 29)! 🌇Get ready for a spectacular sunset during Manhattanhenge, also known as the phenomenon when the sun aligns with the Manhattan grid! For the best viewing locations, visit on.nyc.gov/Manhattanhenge. If you’ll miss today’s sunset, Manhattanhenge is happening again on May 30, July 12, and July 13. (📷: Tudor City Overpass by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

A post shared by NYC Parks (@nycparks) on May 29, 2018 at 11:16am PDT